Premier League: Arsenal sign Lucas Torreira

Arsenal have finally confirmed the transfer of Uruguay international midfielder Lucas Torreira, a move that had been rumoured since the start of the 2018 World Cup. The 22-year-old midfielder completed his medical at Arsenal's London Colney training base on Tuesday and the Gunners confirmed that he will join the squad in August. Arsenal have paid around 26 million pounds to Serie A club Sampdoria for Torreira, who has produced solid performances with Uruguay at the World Cup in Russia. In fact, he featured in all five of Uruguay's games at the World Cup.

New Arsenal boss Unai Emery was the one who insisted to get young midfielder: "In Lucas Torreira, we have signed a young player who is a very bright talent in the game. A midfielder with great quality, I have enjoyed watching his performances for Sampdoria in the past two seasons, and we all saw him do very well for Uruguay in the World Cup. He is a young player already with good experience, but who wants to keep on growing. We welcome Lucas to Arsenal and look forward to him joining us soon for pre-season." The club have confirmed that Torreira will be wearing the number 11 shirt at Arsenal next season.

"I feel very happy," Lucas Torreira said. "I want to make the most of this opportunity life has given me. I am really looking forward to starting this new adventure. I feel calm. I am used to coping with this kind of thing in the best possible way. It's a very positive thing that people want to welcome me. It makes me feel comfortable. Now I am calm and I look forward to the future, which for sure will be very nice." Lucas Torreira moved from Uruguay to Italy at the age of 17, when he joined Pescara, and then he was bought by Sampdoria in 2015. He scored 4 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for Sampdoria last season. Arsenal have already signed four players this summer: Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Juventus right-back Stefan Lichtsteiner and Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Arsenal are 28/1 at Bet365 to win the Premier League title next season.